Volleyball Returns Home versus Georgia Tech, Clemson

Oct. 7, 2010

Complete Match Notes in PDF Format

Coral Gables, Fla. – The University of Miami volleyball team looks to get back on the winning track this weekend as the Hurricanes host Georgia Tech and Clemson at the James L. Knight Sports Complex for a pair of key Atlantic Coast Conference matches.

Miami (12-4, 2-3 ACC) will open the two-match homestand against Georgia Tech on Fri., Oct. 8, at 7 p.m. The `Canes will wrap-up the weekend against Clemson on Sun., Oct. 10, at 1 p.m.

This weekend’s matches will feature a live chat with fans through Cover It Live. This unique experience will give fans the chance to interact and ask questions and share comments with members of the UM Sports Media Relations staff throughout each match.

Volleyball: Georgia Tech at Miami

On Sunday versus Clemson, all fans are encouraged to bring their ticket stub from Saturday night’s Miami vs. Florida State football game, and receive $1 admission to either volleyball or soccer, also taking place on Sunday at Noon on the UM campus at Cobb Stadium.

Miami looks to get back on the winning track after suffering two tough losses last weekend along venerable tobacco road in the state of North Carolina against UNC and NC State. The Hurricanes hit better than the Wolfpack on Sun., Oct. 3, but were unable to come away with the win.

Redshirt junior setter Katie Gallagher (Winter Park, Fla.) leads the league in assists with 571 (10.98 per set), while claiming 138 digs and 32 blocks (26 assisted).

The offensive attack for the `Canes, which ranks second in the league in hitting percentage (.256), assists (13.38 per set) and kills (14.33 per set), is led by junior outside hitter Lane Carico (Manhattan Beach, Calif.) with a league sixth-best 190 kills (3.28 per set). Redshirt junior outside hitter Christine Williamson (Tampa, Fla.) is second on the team in kills, recording 165 (2.89 per set), and hitting .276 percent.

Junior middle blocker Ali Becker (Katy, Texas) continues to rank in the top 10 of the ACC in hitting percentage, sitting ninth this week with a team-best .346 clip (96k-23e-211ta). Freshman libero Ryan Shaffer (San Jose, Calif.) leads the defense for UM with 205 digs (3.80 per set). Also playing well on defense is fellow freshman Taylor Hollins (Long Beach, Calif.) with 133 digs (2.96 per set).

October is Breast Cancer Awareness month, and the University of Miami is also continuing its drive to support breast cancer awareness through the “Side-Out Foundation” before the `Canes take part in their “Dig Pink” match against Wake Forest on Sun., Oct. 24. Prior to and during the match, the Hurricanes will wear pink warm-up T-shirts, as well as pink ribbons and other apparel during their match against the Demon Deacons.

The matches will also be streamed live via All-Access on www.hurricanesports.com, and will also have live audio through WVUM (www.wvum.org).

To support the Hurricanes’ cause and give your donation to help support breast cancer awareness, please visit http://www.side-out.org/application/teams/team_page/1727.

For more information on the University of Miami volleyball team, please log on to www.hurricanesports.com. Once there, you will find up-to-date news, stats and information regarding the Hurricanes volleyball program.

You can also keep up-to-date with all UM Athletics via twitter at Twitter.com/HurricaneSports.

Quick Hits on Georgia Tech…
The Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets enter the weekend with a 9-7 overall record, and a 2-3 mark in the Atlantic Coast Conference. The Jackets have won their last two conference matches against Virginia and Virginia Tech last weekend on the road. Georgia Tech leans on sophomore outside hitter Monique Mead for kills, sitting atop the league in that category with 265 (4.34 per set). Bailey Hunter also supplies kills for the Jackets, registering 176 (2.89 per set), and hitting at a .225 clip on the year. The Yellow Jackets have junior middle blocker Asia Stawicka at the net, as she is ranked fifth in the league in blocks with 73 (1.20 per set).

As a team, Georgia Tech has the third-best hitting percentage in the league, hitting at a .255 clip. Meanwhile, opponents against the Yellow Jackets are hitting at a .207 percentage. Mary Ashley Tippins sets up the offense with 630 assists, now in her fourth year as the starting setter. The libero position is handled by senior Jordan McCullers, who leads the team with 249 digs (4.08 per set).

Series against the Yellow Jackets…
Miami leads the all-time series against the Yellow Jackets, 6-5. In fact, the `Canes have won the last four meetings against Georgia Tech, including two thrilling 3-2 decisions last season in Coral Gables and Atlanta, respectively. The last three matches overall have been 3-2 decisions for the `Canes.

Quick Hits on Clemson…
The Clemson Tigers enter the weekend working on a 10-3 overall record, and a record of 2-3 in the ACC. The Tigers are led by sophomore middle hitter Sandra Adeleye offensively, registering 141 kills (3.13 per set) and 53 blocks (36 assisted). Two other Tigers own 100-plus kills on the year, in the form of sophomores Serenat Yaz (129) and Natalie Patzin (110).

The Tigers use setter Lacy Hayes to quarterback the offense, as she owns 327 assists (8.61 per set) with 29 blocks (26 assisted). The defense is charged by senior Cansu Ozdemir with 196 digs (4.36 per set).

Series against the Tigers…
Clemson owns a commanding 10-3 advantage in the series against UM. The Tigers have won the last two meetings against the Hurricanes, and eight of the last nine overall. The only win for UM during that stretch was a 3-2 decision on Nov. 16, 2008.